The Best Lab Supplies & Consumables

Buying Guide

Whether you’re setting up a new school laboratory or refurbishing an existing workplace lab, it’s important to know which lab supplies and consumables you will need for effective operations. While many items may vary depending on what kind of lab it is — such as a biology, chemistry or engineering lab — there are some supplies that will typically be present in any laboratory environment.

For labs where scientists and students will be working on experiments, it’s likely there will be several different liquids and solids involved. To house them, you will require bottles or containers with tight-fitting lids. You may also require specialty funnels that are designed to help pour liquids into vessels without any spills. Both containers and funnels are available in plastic and glass.

Another common lab supply item is beakers, which are used for mixing and dissolving chemical solutions. They can also be used when heating or cooling down chemical solutions. Typically, labs will require multiple beakers in different sizes and shapes based on the types of work they are doing. Test tubes are another item that many labs require, which are used for holding samples.

Most labs require stainless steel spatulas and scoopers, which are specially shaped to be used with beakers and test tubes that have narrow mouths. These specialty instruments are long and narrow so they can fit into the beakers and test tubes. Along with that, labs will also require steel trays for carrying small supplies from one place to another.

Every lab requires the proper safety equipment to operate, such as safety glasses, disposable gloves and lab coats for the personnel to wear. Labs will also require an eyewash station, first aid kits and fire blankets.

• There are numerous different types of beakers, each for a specific scientific purpose. Beakers can be made from glass, metal or plastic. Ensure that the beaker you are using is resistant to the chemical you are experimenting with. Be sure to check up to what temperature the beaker can withstand, especially if you will need to heat up substances as part of your experiments.
• The shape of the beaker is also important to consider. Some are tapered while others have straight edges. Some have handles while others don’t. Some beakers have one spout while others can have up to four to help with pouring specific chemical substances.
• When deciding how many laboratory supplies and consumables you need, consider the average usage. If the equipment is used on a daily basis, for example, it will need to be replaced sooner than if it is only used infrequently.
• How often you will need to replace lab supplies like beakers and test tubes will depend on the quality of the equipment. Poor quality items may break or wear down faster than those made from high-quality materials.
• Be sure to consider how many people work in the lab on a regular basis as well. This will help you determine the right amount of supplies to get. For example, if your lab regularly has 15 students, will you need at least 15 sets of supplies, one for each student? If the students will be working in pairs or groups, will you need less supplies? Also consider how many extras you will need to keep in case something breaks or gets lost.
• For any consumable items, it’s vital to have a running inventory so you always know how many you have in supply at all times. This way, you can order more when you reach a critical low point so that you don’t run out of supplies and risk the productivity of the lab.